Suspended ceiling grid construction



July 4, 1961 w. v. WILDE SUSPENDED CEILING GRID CONSTRUCTION 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 18, 1957 Vll'lA IIIIIIV'I INVENTOR. WILLIAM V.WILDE July 4, 1961 w. v. WILDE SUSPENDED CEILING GRID CONSTRUCTION 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 18, 1957 INVENTOR.

mllfl'l WI LLlAM V WILDE United States Patent-O This invention-relatesto ceiling construction and .more

particularly to ceiling grids. for supporting ceiling panels.

In the construction of suspended ceilings comp-rising alight guage metalframework which .is hung by wires from the structural ceiling or roofjoists, the suspended gridframework generally consists of preformedinverted T-section bars which are disposed at right angles and aresecured .together by means of clips or other fastenings. Usually, thebottom 'fianges of the T-sections are exposed, and serve to supportvarious types of ceilingpanels for decorative, acoustical or lightreflecting purposes.

The primary object of the present invention is to pro vide means forinterlocking the cross runners of the grid framework with the supportingmain runners ina simplified manner that will reduce the time :normally'required for installation.

Another objectof the invention is to provide means .for connectingceiling gridmembers, and having a positive locking connection betweenthe grid members.

A further object of thcinvention is to provide means for'c'onnectingceiling grid members with a positive locking connection but which iscapable of being readily disengaged without deformation of either thegrid members or the connector means to thereby facilitate rearrangementor complete disassemblyof grid members, or provide large openings foraccess to the area above the suspended ceiling.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a ceiling gridconstruction having simplicity of design, economy of construction andefliciency in operation.

Briefly,the novel connection between grid members, according to thepresent invention, comprises a pair of spaced, opposed ears or fingerspunched'from each side of the web of the main runners for embracingright angle flanges on a clip removably mounted'on the ends of the crossmembers of the grid, said pairs of ears beingvertically spaced to permitalignment of the-cross members on opposite sides of the main runners.The clip comprises a U-shaped member adapted to-istraddle the webs ofthe cross members and be releasably secured thereto by mating lugs andapertures. Spaced above and below the respective pairs ofears areprotrusions or detents disposed on the main runner web centrallyrelative to the pairof ears on the same side of the web and adapted toadditional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood fromthe following description of a specific embodiment when'read inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencecharacters indicate like parts through the several figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is aview in perspective, partially exploded, of anintersection ofa mainrunner and opposed cross members;

.FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1,,parts ofthe clip being broken away forconven- .ience of illustration;

Patented July 4, 1961 "ice FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken online 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a section of a main runner, aholdingclipand the end portion of a cross runner;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a crossmember having amodified form of locking 111%,, and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings .in detail, the nsualceilingg'ridconstruction comprises a plurality of suspended main-runners 1 disposedin spaced, parallel, coplanar relation, and supporting and connected 'bya plurality of perpendicularly disposed, parallel cross-members 6. Therunners and members usually are of substantially identical constructionand comprise bars of inverted T-section with upstanding webs andhorizontal cross-flanges, the latter forming framesfor supportingceiling panels either by resting thereon or'by being-clipped thereto.Consequently, in the drawings, the main runners are shown as comprisingvertical webs 2 with horizontal cross flanges '3 while thecross-members6 comprise vertical webs 7 with horizontal cross-flanges 8.

The present invention is directed to means for releasably connecting thecross-members '6 'to the main runners 1 and for this purpose, the webs20f the main runners are provided with longitudinally spaced connectingmeans each of which includes two pairs of vertically spaced ears 4 and4- respectively associated with two vertically spacedxprotrusions .ordetents 5 and 5'. Thepairs of ears 4 and 4' and the detents 5 and 5'conveniently'are struck from opposite sides .of the'web 2 with the earsof each pair inuopposed spaced relation and the protrusion .or detentassociated with each pair protruding from the-same sideof the web 2 andlocated generally oppositeand between the ears of the other pair, as maybe seen most clearly in FIG. 5. Referring specifically to FIG. 5, itwill be seen that the ears 4 extend in op posedrelation from one side ofthe web 2 and are spaced above the ears 4' which extend in opposedrelation from the other side of the web 2. A detent 5 is punched fromthe web 2 more or less between and centrally of the ears 4' andprotruding from the web on the same side as the ears 4.for associationtherewithin establishing a connection with a cross-member 6 on that sideof the main runner. Similarly, the .detent 5'. is located more or .lessbetweenthe ears 4 for association with the ears 4'. The detents do nothave to be horizontallyaligned with the respective ears but must bevertically spaced from their associatedpairs of cars.

'The ends 17 of the cross-fianges 8 of the cross-members 6 are cut offsquare at each end and, conveniently, the ends 11 of the webs 7 of thecross-members may also be squared off and coplanar with the ends17 ofthe cross-flanges 8. In other words, the ends of the crossmembers 6 maybe squared 'olf. Adjacent each end, the cross-members 6 are providedwitha pair of lugs 14, 14 (FIGS. 1-5) or 14-, 14 (FIGS. 6 and 7) which arespaced longitudinally and struck from opposite sides of the webs 7, saidlugs 14 or 14' being inclined'outwardly from the webs 7 at their upperportions and having free bottom edges 15 which are spaced above thecross-flanges 8 and preferably are squarted off and parallel with saidcross-flanges.

The ends of the cross-members 6 are secured to the mam runners 1 byclips 9Which may be molded or formed from relatively thin sheetmaterial. The clips 9 comprise a U-shaped body including branches 12,12' having at one end perpendicularly disposed flanges 10, 10,respectively. The branches .12, 12' are each provided with a pair oflongitudinally spaced openings 13 which preferably are square, theopenings 13 in the respective branches 12, 12' being aligned and theopenings of each pair being spaced a distance corresponding to thespacing between the lugs. 14 or 14 on the cross-member webs 7. Thelength of the branches 12, 12 from the bight therebetween to theiropposite free edges 19 corresponds to the height of the web 7 of thecross-members 6.

In use and assembly, a clip 9 is mounted on each end of a cross-member6, the clip body straddling the Web 7 with the free edges 19 of thebranches 12, 12 substantially in abutment with the upper surfaces of thecrossflanges 8 and with the openings 13 coincident with and nesting thelugs 14, 14' of the web 7 and the flanged end of the clip extendingbeyond the end of the web 7 to provide a space or channel 16, as bestshown in FIGS. 1-4. When mounting the clip 9 over the web 7, thebranches 12, 12 are cammed apart by and slide over the lugs 14, 14'until the respective openings 13 register with the lugs whereupon thebranches 12, 12' retract and the lugs 14, 14 are seated in therespective openings 13, the bottom free edges 15 of the lugs overlyingand engaging the bottom edges of the openings to retain the clip on theweb 7.

When the clips 9 are mounted on the ends of a web 7, the cross-member6'is' ready for mounting on and connection with the main runners 1. Toeffect this assembly, a cross-member 6 is positioned with the flanges10, 10 of an end clip 9 flush against the side of the web 2 of a mainrunner 1 with said flanges above and centrally disposed relative to therespective pair of ears 4 or 4', and

then lowered to slide the clip down between the ears of the respectivepair with the flanges between the web 2 and the respective ear of theparticular pair. The clip is maintained in a vertical position as it ismounted on the main runner 1 so that the ends of the branches 12, 12' atthe flanges straddle the detent or 5' associated with the respectivepair of ears. The clip 9 is lowered until the bottom edges 19 of itsbranches 12, 12 rest on the upper surfaces of the main runnercross-flanges 3.

With reference to FIG. 1, for example, the flanges 10, of the clip 9 inthe foreground, have been disposed against the near side of the web 2 ofthe main runner 1 above and centrally of the pair of ears 4, and thenlowered to slide the clip down between the ears 4 with the flangesbetween the web and the respective cars. It will be noted that the lowerouter corners of the flanges 10, 10' are rounded to facilitate slidingthe flanges down between and behind the ears. As the clip was lowered,it was maintained in a vertical position until the flanged ends of thebranches straddled the detent 5, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, whichprojects into the channel or space 16. The ears 4 and detent 5 cooperatein retaining the detent in a vertical position. The clip 9 in FIG. 1 isfully lowered so that its bottom edges 19 rest on the crossflange 3 andthereby positions the cross-flanges 8 of the cross-member 6 coplanarwith the cross-flange 3. The outer surfaces of the flanges 10, 10' arespaced from the end edges 17 of the cross-member cross-flanges 8 adistance equal to the width of the cross-flange 3 so that the end edge17 will snugly fit against the longitudinal edge 18 of the cross-flange3. The lower free corners of the branches 12, 12 are rounded, as bestshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that any material or dirt in the anglebetween the web 2 and cross-flange 3 will not interfere with the properpositioning of the cross-member 6 relative to the main runner 1.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be seen that a crossmember 6 in thebackground is about to be connected to the far side of the main runner 1opposite to and in alignment with the cross-member 6 in the foreground.In this case, however, the flanges 10, 10' of the clip 9 are placedagainst the web 2 above the ears 4' and astraddle-the detent 5' whichprojects into the channel 16 between the clip branches 12, 12'. The clipis then lowered into position as previously described. It will be notedthat the associated ears and detent 4 and 5 or 4 and 5' provide a threepoint connection with the clip and thereby prevents twisting of the clipand associated cross-member.

If it is ever necessary to remove any of the crossmembers or disassemblethe ceiling grid, it is merely necessary to raise the cross-member endsto slide the flanges 10, 10' up from the respective pair of cars. It isseldom necessary to remove the clips 9 from the cross-members 6 but inthe event that it is necessary, the branches 12, 12 may be easily priedand sprung away from the web 7 by means of a screw driver or the like toenable raising the clip until the bottom edges of the openings 13 passabove the bottom edges of the lugs 14, 14' whereupon the clip may bereadily slid from the web 7.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shownand described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof arepossible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted exceptinsofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of theappended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A ceiling grid construction comprising a main runner and across-member connected perpendicularly thereto, said runner andcross-member being of inverted T- section and having a cross-flange witha centrally disposed upright web, said runner having a pair of opposedears on one side of its Web and detaining means protruding from said oneWeb side and spaced generally vertically from said ears, saidcross-member web including a portion extending beyond the end of thecross-flange and having a pair of oppositely disposed substantiallycoplanar flanges on the end thereof and perpendicular thereto forfitting between the web and ears and engaging the detaining means ofsaid runner with the extending portion between the opposed edges of saidears and the detaining means preventing angular movement of eachcross-member, the end of the cross-flange on said crossmember beingspaced from the outer surfaces of the coplanar flanges a distancesubstantially equal to one half the width of the cross-flange on therunner, whereby the end of said member cross-flange abuts thelongitudinal edge of the runner cross-flange, the bottom edge of saidextending portion being disposed to rest on said runner cross-flange andsupport said cross-member cross-flange coplanar therewith.

2. A ceiling grid construction comprising a main runner and across-member connected perpendicularly thereto, said runner andcross-member being of inverted T- section and having a cross-flange witha centrally disposed upright web, said runner having a pair of opposedears and a protruding detent on one side of its web with said detentcentrally of but spaced vertically from said ears, said cross-member webincluding a portion extending beyond the end of the cross-flange andhaving a pair of oppositely disposed substantially coplanar flanges onthe end thereof and perpendicular thereto and with a channeltherebetween for fitting between the web and ears of said runner withthe extending portion between the opposed edges of said ears and thedetent nested in said channel, the end of the cross-flange on saidcrossmember being spaced from the outer surfaces of the coplanar flangesa distance substantially equal to one half the width of the cross-flangeon the runner, whereby the end of said member cross-flange abuts thelongitudinal edge of the runner cross-flange, the bottom edge of saidextending portion being disposed to rest on said runner cross-flange andsupport said cross-member crossflange coplanar therewith.

3. A ceiling grid construction comprising a main runner andoppositelydisposed cross-members connected perpendicularly thereto, saidrunner and cross-members being of inverted T-section and having across-flange with a centrally disposed upright web, said runner having apair of opposed ears and a protruding detent struck from each side ofits web, said pairs of ears being vertically spaced on said web and saiddetents being vertically spaced from and centrally disposed relative tothe ears on the respective sides of said Web, said cross-member webseach including a portion extending beyond the end of the cross-flangeand having a pair of oppositely disposed substantially coplanar flangeson the end thereof and perpendicular thereto for fitting between the weband the respective ears of said runner with the respective extendingportions between the opposed edges of said ears, said extending portionseach also having a channel between the bases of said flanges for matingthe respective detent, the end of the cross-flange on each crossmemberbeing spaced from the outer surfaces of the respective coplanar flangesa distance substantially equal to one half the width of thecross-flanges on the runner, whereby the ends of said member crossflanges abut the respective longitudinal edges of the runnercross-flange, the bottom edges of said extending portions being disposedto rest on said runner cross-flange and support said cross-flanges incoplanar assembly.

4. A ceiling grid construction comprising a main run ner and across-member connected perpendicularly thereto, said runner andcross-member being of inverted T-section and having a cross-flange witha centrallydisposed upright web, said runner having a pair of opposedears and a protruding detent on one side of its web with said detentcentrally of and spaced vertically from said ears, said cross-member webhaving a pair of longitudinally spaced lugs adjacent its end, a U-shapedclip having parallel branches with pairs of aligned openings therein,said clip straddling said cross-member Web with said lugs nested inrespective openings in said branches and removably locking said clip onsaid web, a portion of said clip extending beyond the end of said weband the branches having a pair of oppositely disposed substantiallycoplanar flanges on the end thereof and perpendicular thereto forfitting between the web and ears of said runner with the clip betweenthe opposed edges of said ears and the detent nested between saidbranches, the end of the cross-flange on said cross-member being spacedfrom the outer surfaces of the coplanar flanges a distance substantiallyequal to one half the width of the crossflange on the runner, wherebythe end of said member cross-flange abuts the longitudinal edge of therunner cross-flange, the bottom edges of said clip branches resting onsaid cross-flanges and supporting said cross-member cross-flangecoplanar with said runner cross-flange.

5. A grid construction according to claim 4 wherein said lugs are onopposite sides of said cross-member web.

6. A ceiling grid construction comprising a main runner and oppositelydisposed cross-members connected perpendicularly thereto, said runnerand cross-members being of inverted T-section and having a cross-flangewith a centrally disposed upright web, said runner having a pair ofopposed ears and a protruding detent struck from each side of its web,said pairs of ears being vertically spaced on said Web and said detentsbeing vertically spaced from and centrally disposed relative to the earson the respective sides of said web, said cross-member webs each havinga pair of longitudinally spaced lugs adjacent the end thereof, a clipfor each cross-member web, said clips being U-shaped and having parallelbranches equal in height to said webs and having pairs of alignedopenings, said clips respectively straddling said webs with respectiveopenings receiving said lugs and removably locking said clips inposition, a portion of each clip extending beyond the end of theassociated cross-flange and having a pair of oppositely disposedsubstantially coplanar flanges on the end thereof and perpendicularthereto for fitting between the web and the respective ears of saidrunner with the respective clip between the opposed edges of said earsand said clip branches straddling the respective detent, the end of thecross-flange on each cross-member being spaced from the outer surfacesof the respective coplanar flanges a distance substantially equal to onehalf the Width of the cross-flanges on the runner, whereby the ends ofsaid member cross-flanges abut the respective longitudinal edges of therunner crossflange, the bottom edges of said clip branches beingdisposed to rest on said runner cross-flanges and support saidcross-flanges in coplanar assembly.

7. A grid construction according to claim 6 wherein said lugs are onopposite sides of said cross-member web.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,412,163 Buckingham Apr. '11, 1922 2,141,009 Myer Dec. 20, 19382,189,159 Anschicks Feb. 6, 1940 2,658,241 Houghton Nov. 10, 19532,683,927 Maronek July 20, 1954 2,830,683 Griflith Apr. 15, 1958 FOREIGNPATENTS 527,121 Canada July 3, 1956

